Mertons Theory of Anomie

1
Mertons Theory of Anomie

• Anomie Deviance arises out of the discrepancy
  between societys social goals and the supply of
  legitimate means to achieve those goals. People
  without the means resort to different tactics

• Conformists accept the goals of society and
  possess the means achieve those goals
• People who do not have the advantage of these
  means react in different ways.

2
Anomie/Ritualists

• Ritualists are honest, hard-working people often
  of the lower-middle-class or working class who
  live in modest homes and drive older cars, make
  some of their own clothes

• They attempt to follow the rules of society
• They lower their expectations of having fancy new
  cars and expensive holidays

3
Innovators

• Innovators include criminals, people who cheat on
  exams and bullies. They are people who use
  deviant means to achieve non-deviant goals

• Some Conformists later become Innovators
• Officials who accept kickbacks for work contracts
  corporate executives who fix prices or falsely
  advertise are Inonovators

4
Retreatists

• Retreatists reject both the means and the goals
  of society. They withdraw from society
• They may be drug addicts or street people.

• Some religious groups are Retreatists.
• They may substitute salvation or meditation for
  worldly goals